Thursday (21/10) Director of Railways Traffic and Transportation of the Directorate General of Railways of the Ministry of Transportation, Danto Restyawan together with the Head of the Southern Sumatra Railways Engineering Office, Ikhsandy Wanto Hatta, accompanied the work visit of a member of Commission V of the Indonesia House of Representatives, Hanna Gayatri to review the implementation of the labor-intensive program on activities to improve the R.42 to R.54 Lahat Line - Lubuklinggau, Bungamas - Lubuklinggau Segment. On this occasion was also attended by the Regent of Empat Lawang Regency, Joncik Muhammad, and Deputy Regional Division III Palembang PT KAI, Muhammad Arifudin.

For information, the labor-intensive project program has been implemented since 2020 by involving the participation of the people who live along with the Lahat - Lubuklinggau railway line improvement project. It is hoped that this labor-intensive project can move the wheels of the economy of the people of South Sumatra in particular, Lahat City, Empat Lawang Regency, and Lubuklinggau City. As stated by the Director of Railway Traffic and Transportation that "This work really empowers many workers to hundreds of workers, therefore, we must monitor performance and continue to seek various improvements in order to achieve the target of this labor-intensive program", said Danto Restyawan.

Meanwhile, the Head of Railways Engineering Office for South Sumatra, Ikhsandy in his report on the labor-intensive activities stated that “The 2021-2021 FY labor-intensive activities on the improvement of the R.42 Lintas Lahat – Lubuklinggau Railway Segment Bungamas – Lubuklinggau along 89,462 km'sp which are financed by funds SBSN with a total budget of IDR 4 billion and absorbing 441 human resources, so from this we can all know that this labor-intensive project is very beneficial for the economic life of the people of South Sumatra, including residents with low economic levels along the railway line and hopefully in the future the government can continue to support labor-intensive activities to support the railway transportation development program in the South Sumatra region".

As for the member of Commission V of the Indonesia House of Representatives, Hanna Gayatri on her visit stated "With the increase of the R.42 to R.54 train line, it can increase the use of rail transportation, both logistics and services, and this labor-intensive activity must be supported in the future so that its implementation does not only improving the railway line but also helping to improve economic welfare for the people of South Sumatra". In addition, the increase in the R.42 train line to R.54 Lintas Lahat – Lubuklinggau Bungamas – Lubuklinggau segment can have an impact on increasing train services so that they operate optimally as well as train travel safety, increasing accessibility to encourage the development of connectivity between regions”.

Work-intensive activities by the Government are productive efforts to empower marginal/poor communities based on the use of natural resources, labor, and local technology in order to reduce poverty unemployment, increase income and maintain people's purchasing power as stated in Minister of Transportation Regulation number PM 70 of 2021 Given the conditions of the covid-19 pandemic, during the review of the labor-intensive program by members of Commission V of the DPR RI, they will continue to carry out the applicable health protocols.(sta/tu)